Online gaming communities for charitable causes are growing rapidly, as players look for ways to give back to their communities while enjoying their favourite pastime. Gaming tournaments organised by communities raise funds for charities, utilising Twitch and other platforms to encourage donations. Some communities allow gamers to volunteer their time and skills to help with various charity initiatives. Examples of charitable gaming communities include Extra Life, which has raised millions of dollars for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, and Child’s Play Charity, which works to improve the lives of children in hospitals and domestic violence shelters. Humble Bundle is another way gamers can give back by purchasing game bundles at a discount, with proceeds going to charity.
Gaming for a Cause: Finding Online Communities that Give Back
Introduction
Gaming has become a ubiquitous part of modern culture in developed countries, and there has been an explosion of online gaming communities that cater to every interest and skill level. However, some gamers are looking for more than just entertainment when they play online. They want to use their gaming skills to help others and give back to their communities. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the ways that you can find online communities that are dedicated to charitable causes and how you can get involved.
Charitable Gaming Communities
Many gamers love the idea of using their passion for gaming to benefit others. Fortunately, there are numerous online communities that allow gamers to do just that. Some communities raise money for charities by organizing tournaments or streaming gaming sessions and encouraging viewers to donate. Other communities allow gamers to volunteer their time and skills to help with various charity initiatives.
Here are a few examples of charitable gaming communities that you may want to check out:
Extra Life
Extra Life is a popular charity organization that has raised millions of dollars for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals across North America. To participate, gamers create a fundraising page and commit to playing games for 24 hours straight. They then collect donations from family, friends, and other supporters, with all proceeds going to their designated hospital. Extra Life has a large and active community, and there are numerous local and regional events that gamers can participate in throughout the year.
Humble Bundle
Humble Bundle offers gamers the chance to purchase bundles of games at a discount, with proceeds going to charity. Games are typically offered for a limited time, and buyers can choose how much of their purchase price goes to the featured charity. Humble Bundle has partnered with several well-known charities, including the American Red Cross, the World Wildlife Fund, and Doctors Without Borders.
Child’s Play Charity
Child’s Play Charity is a nonprofit organization that works to improve the lives of children in hospitals and domestic violence shelters through the power of play. Gamers can support Child’s Play Charity by purchasing items from their Amazon wishlist, which includes games, toys, and other items that are sent directly to hospitals and domestic violence shelters across the country.
Other Ways to Give Back
If you’re looking for ways to give back to your community using your gaming skills, but you don’t want to join a formal charity organization, there are still plenty of options available to you. Here are a few ideas:
Organize a Gaming Tournament
If you’re part of a gaming community, organizing a tournament can be a fun way to raise money for charity. You can charge participants an entry fee, with all proceeds going to the charity of your choice. You can also encourage viewers to donate during the tournament using platforms like Twitch.
Stream Your Gaming Sessions
If you have a following on Twitch or another streaming platform, you can use your influence to raise awareness and funds for charities. You can encourage viewers to donate during your streams, or you can create incentives for donations, such as allowing viewers to request games or challenges that you’ll undertake once a certain donation level is reached.
Volunteer Your Time and Skills
Many charities need volunteers to help with a variety of tasks, from organizing events to managing social media accounts. If you have skills that could be useful to a charity organization, consider reaching out and offering your services. For example, if you’re a skilled designer or developer, you could offer to create graphics or build a website for a charity at no cost.
Conclusion
Gaming can be a powerful tool for charitable giving and community building. Whether you’re interested in joining a formal charity organization like Extra Life or Child’s Play Charity, or you’d prefer to organize your own gaming tournament or stream for a cause, there are plenty of ways to get involved. By using your gaming skills and influence for good, you can make a real difference in the lives of others while having fun at the same time.